Glasgow Events: Electric Glen

Now that we have baby A and lead a somewhat quieter life, we are continually looking for baby-friendly things to do that will allow us to get out and about. When I saw Electric Glen advertised, it seemed exactly what we were looking for.

 

 

After taking a break in 2015, Electric Glen is back with a new trail and interactive installations and promises to transform Rouken Glen Park into an electric wonderland. The event is set to run between the 4th and 14th February 2016 with entrance slots every half hour from 5-8.30pm, closing for the night at 10pm. Tickets are available from Ticketmaster, priced at £10 for an adult, £8 for a child aged 5-15 (under 5s go free) and £8 for over 60s. The main route is 1.4km long, although this includes walking up stairs and rough terrain so there is a 0.7km wheels only route for which there are discounted tickets available.

Source: http://electricglen.co.uk/thetrail

Our visit unfortunately coincided with a wet, dreary and freezing cold evening; although living in Glasgow you can't really plan for much else! Luckily as the trail starts at the Boathouse café, we were able to pick up cups of tea to keep us toasty on the walk round. We opted for the 5pm start and started to make our way towards to Boathouse at around 4.45pm as the website advises you to be there promptly. We had parked at the Davieland Road entrance closest to the pond, however this filled up VERY quickly (probably due to the weather) and was a nightmare to get out of at the end as people were parking too close to one another, so on reflection I'd park in one of the car parks a bit further away and walk next time.

Printworks Collective

The trail consists of three separate zones, each of which has its own installations depicting the history of the park. The first was the Geology Zone- which detailed the origin of the rocks which formed the shape of the Auldhouse Burn- then we had the Printworks, which reflected on the history of the Crum family, who owned the local printworks which were powered by the Burn for dyeing and printing. This installation brings together old printwork from the 1800s in collaboration with designs by Hazel Dunn, who recently gradutaed from the Glasgow School of Art. Finally, we experienced Shimmer, which involved lanterns each made of cymbals to act as loudspeakers as vibrations were transmitted through the installation in order to mimic the sound of the machines at work in the Thornliebank Printworks.

 

 

 

I hadn't expected to learn so much, but I found the history behind each installation really interesting, and I'm not usually one for history! If like me, that's not usually your thing, I guarantee you'll still enjoy the walk and stunning light show. The waterfall especially was breath-taking, and as I'm quite sentimental about that section of the park anyway, that's something I'll really remember. Because of the rubbish weather we did rush the trail and were done in 40mins, but carrying a 3-month old in a carrier in the rain isn't an easy task! I'm so glad we took her though- she was mesmerised! I can't wait to go again next year when she's older to see what she makes of it, and I can only hope the weather is better then!

 

 

Meal Plan Monday

Lentil &bacon soup| Chicken & broccoli bake | Chilli

After the shenanigans of the previous week, we were actually really good with our meal plan last week. I even accounted for us going to Electric Glen on Friday and defrosted chilli ready for us coming home so we wouldn't nip anywhere for a cheeky take-away. I am actually beginning to struggle for healthy ideas to keep us motivated so my mission this week is to trawl through recipes to find some new dinners. If you have any suggestions in the meantime, please do comment below.

This week we'll be having:

Monday: Tuna pasta bake

Tuesday: Sweet potato cottage pie (from The Body Coach's Lean in 15 book)

Wednesday: In-laws for tea

Thursday:  Spanish rice and prawn one-pot

Friday: Steak and chips

Saturday: Chicken fajitas

Sunday: A big old Sunday roast followed by sticky toffee pudding (Valentine's treat!)

 

Ooh the countdown until Sunday is on!

 

 

My Sunday Photo: Electric Glen

 

On Friday we spent our evening at Electric Glen, a stunning light a sound show set in Rouken Glen Park. Although the weather was typically Scottish (i.e. pouring), we donned our wellies, got A in her carrier and took an extra large brolly and made the most of the experience. A full review of the event will be coming on Wednesday so look out for that, but in the meantime if you're on the fence about going I'd definitely recommend!

 

 

My Third Trimester Essentials

The third trimester of my pregnancy may have been and gone for me, but I still remember the excitement and anticipation like it was yesterday. Not to mention the exhaustion, restless legs and constant badgering from family and friends! I did posts on my essentials for the first and second trimester, so I thought I'd go ahead an complete the set, even if it is ridiculously late. As always, these are just my personal opinions and recommendations.

Babystart Mum to Be Pillow Pack: £16.99- Argos

 

Pregnancy Pillows

I touched on these in my 2nd tri essentials, but my pillows became complete staples for me in the last few weeks. From 35 weeks onwards my bump was measuring ahead and causing me major strain, so the wedge was perfect to give me some support in bed/ on the couch. I also had restless leg syndrome during my pregnancy, and having my legs raised over the V-shaped pillow would ease the symptoms slightly to allow me to sleep.

 

 Ferrous Sulphate Tablets

I mentioned above that I had restless leg syndrome due to iron deficiency. I was prescribed the maximum dose of these iron tablets from week 28 onwards, and while I still suffered pretty badly with my symptoms  I've no idea how much worse I'd have been without them.

 

Pregnacare Tabs: £4.99/30 pack- various retailers

 

Pregnacare Tablets

I took these throughout my whole pregnancy to ensure bubs got all of her nutrients.

 

Supportive Shoes

I tend to just live in cheapy Primark flats throughout the summer months which I know aren't the best for your feet but have always served me well. However, I found being on my feet at work all day really hurt my feet during the last trimester so I had to invest in some decent flats. These also came in really handy when I started my maternity leave and was doing lots of walking to try and bring on labour.

 

Oral B Pro 600: £24.99(half price)

Electric Toothbrush

I switched to a manual toothbrush and the beginning of my pregnancy as my electric one ran out of charge and I just didn't bother to plug it in! However, I started to suffer painful, inflamed gums in my third trimester and really needed to improve my oral health routine to try and ease it. Flossing also really helped, and I'm pleased to say I've managed to keep it up since (it's my five minutes of peace in the evening- pathetic eh?!)

 

NHS Websites

I put a lot of research into writing my birth plan and looking into different types of births and pain relief, but I made sure to stick to reputable NHS websites which just presented facts and not opinions so that I could make my own decisions. I'll do a post which condenses all of this information soon which should save a lot of research time.

 

As I've said before, I was very lucky to have a smooth and uneventful pregnancy and didn't suffer badly with symptoms so I didn't have to rely on many products to help me through the wait to meet my baby girl! If there are any third-tri mams reading this, then remember that you're nearly there and good luck!

Review: The Snuzpod

Even before I fell pregnant, I knew I'd want to purchase a co-sleeper. I love the idea of co-sleeping but I'd never be confident enough to actually have baby in our bed. I also know people who have co-slept that still can't get their five-year-old into their own bed, and I knew I wanted to avoid any possibility of that.

Unfortunately many co-sleepers on the market are rather ugly, but I was willing to accept that for the benefits that co-sleeping would bring. Luckily I spotted the Snuzpod quite early on in my pregnancy and immediately fell in love.

The design is so sleek and beautiful, and it's exactly the kind of thing that is gorgeous enough to put your precious little newborn in. Currently the Snuzpod is available in four colours: neutral, espresso, grey and white. We went for the latter as it matches our bedroom furniture perfectly and complements the overall look of the room.



Source: www.babylurve.co.uk

I built the crib at around 34 weeks pregnant within half an hour and didn't find it difficult in the slightest. I'd spent that whole week building the baby's bedroom furniture and this was a breeze in comparison! The instructions are robust and all that's required is an allen key (provided). We've since had to adjust the height (I built it downstairs in front of the TV and had just guessed which height to set it at), and that was done within a couple of minutes. Once built, the crib is really sturdy and I have absolutely no worries about A's safety while she is in it. In fact, I have every confidence that it will last for several years (and babies)!

For the first few days we carted the Snuzpod downstairs for A to sleep in during the day (with the side up) and also partly to show off to visitors, all of whom commented on its gorgeousness. Yes, it was a bit of a faff but made easier by the fact that the crib top comes away from the base and can just be slotted back in. Now I don't bother bringing it down and A just sleeps in her pram but I'd definitely do it again with a future newborn. Re-connecting it to the bed is easy- the straps are already around the bed base, and can just be looped around the legs of the Snuzpod and clipped back into place.

 

As I mentioned, the Snuzpod can be used as a traditional four-sided crib as well as a co-sleeper. Converting between takes seconds and just involves zipping up the side and inserting a metal rod through the top seam to keep it in place. At night we have always taken the side down so I can have A right beside me and I absolutely love it. I can reach out to hold her hand or stroke her face easily, turn her Ewan Dream Sheep on if she's stirring and just slide her over for a feed. Not to mention the ease of replacing her dummy several times a night- being able to do that without getting up is priceless!

 

 Other pros include the storage shelf on the base and the fact that it comes with two types of straps to attach to the bed- one set for divan bases and the other for slatted bases- so I know if we happen to have a different bed before our next baby is born I wont have to go and buy separate straps. The Snuzpod currently retails at around £200 including the mattress from various retailers. We purchased ours directly from the manufacturer Little Green Sheep who delivered within two days and kept us updated with several texts during that time.

Meal Plan Monday

Lemon drizzle cake | Spanish rice & prawn one pot
Tomato & roasted pepper soup | Cod with pepper sauce

Well as you can probably tell from the cake pictured above, last week's healthy eating didn't quite go to plan. In fact, it went so off the rails that it also included four empire biscuits and a Dominos! In my defence, A had been up several times each night with her teeth and I had no energy or inclination to cook. One of the perks of parenting is being able to blame the baby right? We did stick to the plan for most of our dinners though, so we haven't blown the budget (or the waistline) too badly.

This weeks dinners will be:

Monday: Chicken & broccoli bake

Tuesday: In-laws for dinner

Wednesday: Cod with pesto pasta & sundried tomatoes

Thursday: Mushroom risotto

Friday: Chilli & baked sweet potato

Saturday: Salmon, broccoli & quinoa

 

I will also be trying to curb my carb cravings through the day and sticking to my three main meals with some fruit for snacking. Biscuits and cake are banned!